Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue:
A yearlong celebration of Euro-Mediterranean identity and cooperation

Moreover, in their Declaration of 17 June 2022 in Naples, Ministers of Culture of the Euro-Mediterranean region called to “promote new joint initiatives to foster culture-led development and regeneration, on the model of the European Capital of Culture, in coordination with (…) the Union for the Mediterranean, taking into account similar initiatives.

Building on this unique momentum of shared ambition, the UfM and the ALF designed and launched the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue initiative, in close cooperation and coordination with the young civil society representatives at its origins, as well as the UfM member states, through a collaborative and open approach.

• Offering programmes which may include conferences and seminars on topics critical to the region, civic engagement initiatives, and cultural performances that celebrate the Euro-Mediterranean identity and diversity, coordinated by local authorities with the support of a coalition of cultural institutions, schools and universities, sports institutions, civil society organisations, and other relevant actors.
• With a coherent, strategic, and consistent approach, clear objectives and demonstrated ability to deliver.
• It is not required to follow a standard programme template or foresee a minimum number of activities. However, the proposal must include a general overview of the programme deployment throughout the year, emphasising: 1) the involvement of cultural actors and civil society organisations in the conception and implementation of the programme; 2) the range and diversity of the activities proposed and their overall quality; 3) and the capacity to combine the promotion of local tangible cultural heritage and living heritage practices with the support for contemporary cultural and creative domains. The use of innovative digital tools and creative methodologies will be highly valued.

• Successful applications shall combine local objectives with a solid regional vision, to broaden the understanding and awareness of their citizens on the richness and diversity of cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as on the commonalities between these cultures, heritage, and history. The programme could address current regional challenges identified by UfM members.
• The programme shall feature Euro-Mediterranean artists and participants and encourage international partnerships to attract the interest of a broad Euro-Mediterranean and global public.
• Finally, the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue designation rests on an active partnership between the two designated cities: the two cities will be invited to collaborate in the manner and level of interaction deemed appropriate by them, demonstrating viable and assessable modalities and content to enable collaboration with the counterpart.

• Particular attention will be given to the role played by civil society in implementing the programmes and their accessibility to the general public and specifically to young people, the elderly and women. The programme should be rich and varied enough to involve the entire population and inform them of ongoing regional projects they could benefit directly from. ‎
• The involvement of the local civil society community in preparing the application and implementing the initiative will be a fundamental award criterion.
• Partnerships between local authorities and at least one civil society organisation member of one of the ALF National Networks are strongly recommended and will be highly valued.